Now that I’ve relieved myself of the pressure of doing these playlists on a monthly basis I’m sort of at a loss as what to moan about here. Because pretty much everything else in the world is absolutely rosey isn’t it? What a time to be alive. Anyway why not scroll on down for some of the best damn music I’ve heard over the last non-specified period of time:
Rock ‘n’ Roll Ain’t Dead – Those Damn Crows: After Massive Wagons’ landed their latest album into the top 20 the next band from the Earache stable to give it a go is Those Damn Crows. If they can manage it too not only will this song be awesome it’ll be prophetic too.
Worry Lines – Darker Days: There’s a hint of classic AFI to this punk bands debut single but not in the largely appeals to angsty teen way that Creeper have got covered. It’s a mature, well-executed piece of punk songsmithery. A band to watch out for.
Never Trust A Man With A Perm – IDLES: Pretty solid advice from IDLES here and as ever there’s a damn fine scathing and witty track to go with it. The lyrics have a touch of Mighty Boosh to them, and that’s no bad thing.
Drunken Boat – The Pogues: It’s not often I give much time to a non-MacGowan Pogues song but this one has booze and boats in it and as any long term readers know I’m a sucker for a shanty.
Souls Out – S.G Wolfgang: A couple of years ago these guys (known as Sean Grant and the Wolfgang back then) released the track Brother and it instantly blew me away. I’ve been waiting an age for them to release an album and it seems one is on the horizon and this lead track from it gives me high hopes. Just bloody hurry up and release it eh lads?
Netflix and Yarr – Rumahoy: Lead by the balaclava’d Captain Yarrface, Rumahoy are perhaps the most bonkers pirate metal bands out there, and that’s quite some feat. This more…ahem…chilled effort is a highlight from their daft debut album. Yarr!
Livin’ Next Door to Leroy – Ashley McBryde: Remember when country music was all about making moonshine and lost love? Well nowadays it’s all about neighbours borrowing spoons to cook up drugs. But when the songs are this bloody good it doesn’t matter a jot.
Friday Night (just died in Saturday’s arms) – Pete Spiby: That’s a beautiful title for a song ain’t it? But what else would you expect from the ex-Groop Dogdrill and Black Spiders man? He’s one of rock’s most under-appreciated talents and his latest bluesy downbeat album is a gem.
Shady Tree – Seasick Steve: Say what you like about his authenticity he can still pen a damn fine blues song when he wants to. This is in fact a b-side (if such a thing still exists) and it’s Seasick Steve doing what Seasick Steve does. Which is either ringing endorsement or damning criticism depending on your point of view I guess.
Emily Dickinson – Clutch: They’re possibly the best band on the planet right now and if you haven’t checked out their new album just do it already. Where else can you find a blues metal masterpiece about a 19th century poet that isn’t pompous or pretentious? Well right here obviously. But check out the album too.
Sweet Relief – Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs: Face it, this could’ve been the biggest pile of shit in the world and I’d’ve still included it for the band name alone. Fortunately it’s a damn cool slice of stoner metal, and pretty much their only song so far that isn’t over 13 minutes in length.
Lay My Burden Down – Black Mirrors: This is some cool as fuck rock and roll which for some reason I think is by a Swedish band. Although a quick google reveals they’re actually from Belgium…fuck Sweden.
Last on the List – Massive Wagons: Current holders of my album of the month award (and such is my penchant for understanding the concept of time they have been for about two months) this little beauty is a surprisingly intelligent musing on the existence of God. It also has my favourite opening line of any song this year. Go listen.
Uncomfortable – Halestorm: A full on rocker from their latest album finds Lzzy Hale (her lack of i disturbs me) basically listing all the reasons she does things to make people uncomfortable. Sprinkling biscuit crumbs in their bed is not one of those things sadly.
Home – Blind River: A more mellow effort from one of my favourite discoveries of the year so far, although in truth it doesn’t stay mellow for long really. I’ll be seeing them at Croydon Rocks soon too. Yay!
Voice of Trespass – Between the Buried and Me: Right, listen up people this is the best song I’ve heard in 2018 and I’m not sure it’s going to be beaten. The finest melding of metal and jazz since Devin Townsend’s Bad Devil. Immense.
A King is Born – Helion Prime: You know what you need in your life? Sci-fi based power metal, that’s what.
Bruma – Møl: Right now this lot are Swedish I’m sure…nope Denmark, bugger. Any way it’s shoegaze/Black Metal at it’s finest. Which is pretty damn fine actually.
Goblin – Scumfuck: This sounds exactly how you’d expect a band called Scumfuck to sound. I can’t believe they don’t get more radio play…
Of Flesh Weaker Than Ash – Conjurer: Widely tipped as metal’s next great band and you can see why on this rather excellent slab of a track. It’s hard, it’s heavy, it’s glorious.
The Safety Of Disbelief- Light the Torch: And here’s a band I think should be the next big thing in metal. This song and indeed their whole current album, Revival, is just great.
My Last Breath – Black Stone Cherry: After that pretty extended run of metal a good old fashioned slow burner of a track by BSC. Poignant and moving if you’re a parent you’ll get it.
Fine Slime – White Denim: A new song from White Denim is always welcome, if you don’t know them yet check them out, and if you like this there’s lots more by them to discover too. Isn’t music great?
Time Song – The Kinks: It’s only a bloody previously unreleased song by The blinkin’ Kinks people! Could the rumours of a reunion be true? God I hope so.
Sinnerman – Årabrot: Hints of Sir Nicholas of Cave on this dark, brooding track from this bunch of Swedish alt-rock hopefuls. Alas! They’re Norwegian!
Anything With Guitars 